Culture, Media and Sport CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Tom Brake MP [NTC 038]

Thank you for the opportunity to submit evidence to the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee in respect of nuisance phone calls. I hope this can still be considered, although it will be received after the deadline.

My constituents tell me that the greatest nuisance is where people get round the TPS rules by phoning landlines from numbers abroad, and that there should a simple cost-free way for people to block such calls.

International action may be necessary in order to improve the filtering of such calls.

They also believe that the complex arrangements for policing these calls involving telecom companies, the Information Commissioner and Oftel etc are unreasonable. There should be a single contact point for resolving nuisance calls quickly. (see “Which’s” comments at http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/action/how-to-deal-with-unwanted-phone-calls-/?gclid=CLCzl7aTtLgCFfQetAodfxYA2w )

Many believe it should not be necessary to re- register TPS protection for businesses every year; the authority given by a telephone customer should be regarded as permanent until rescinded.

August 2013